Miracle Cure: Walking Backwards Through Life

On October 2, 2013 by Janice Taylor

Looking for a fresh perspective on life? Me, too! Here, from Our Lady of Weight Loss a.k.a. Our Lady of Weightlessness, she who believes in the Power of All Things Light, an exercise for you to do that will give you a refreshing spin on living and more! Read on, ingest, feel fabulous and pay it forward!

Walking Backwards Through Life

Walking backwards takes the excessive stress off your knees, it reduces shear force, and it gives you a totally new perspective on things – a new point of view. Instead of moving closer to things, you are distancing yourself! You are moving towards your compelling future as you wave bye-bye, so long to the past.

Walking backwards is more than a reversal of the forward motion. It is a learned skill that requires practice. You’ll be ‘exercising’ a new motor pattern, so it takes concentration. Your mind will be involved, as well!

Walking Backwards Through Life may be a preferred route for you if you …

1. are rehabilitating from knee surgery,
2. experiencing pain as you go up and down stars or hills,
3. suffer from muscle strains of the hip, groin, hamstrings or lower back (greater stretch when walking backward),
4. play sports that require running backwards (i.e. soccer, football, basketball),
5. play sports in which you need to work on your ability to change direction rapidly, or …
6. are just plain bored and need a change of pace.

How to start moving backward through life?

Best to try walking backwards on a slightly inclined slope or ramped treadmill. At some point, you may even jog backwards.

Take 10 steps forward and 9 steps backwards (which should return you to your starting place). If this feels good, increase to 20 or 30 steps at a clip. Next, move to a slightly elevated place. And so forth! Got it?

You’re in good company! Champion Boxer Gene Tunney ran four to eight backward miles a day in his training. Muhammad Ali, known for his dazzling foot speed, used backward running in his roadwork.